PICTURES, a series of paintings by Brooklyn-based artist Mackenzie Younger, is inspired by early American art and the prevalence of smartphone imagery in today’s culture. Younger’s work re-contextualizes historical paintings within the frames of the iPhone lock screen. The composition of each piece serves as a subtle commentary on the role of the smartphone as both benefactor of global curatorial practices, and disseminator of western democratic ideologies.

Macknzie Younger graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2012.

Artist Statement

“The time on each piece represents the exact moment I complete the painting. It shows literally my process of painting time. As I get to the end, brush in hand, and go to apply the last number I have to decide ‘What’s it going to be? 9:58 or 9:59?‘ It usually takes me a minute to paint the last number, so I’d go with the 9:59.

There’s also an interesting contemporary language represented within the technology. For example battery life and Internet connection are symbols, essentially modern day pictograms. I found people reacted strongly to the low battery life symbols in my work, like it was their phone. It’s relatable, at least for now. In the future, people may forget the meaning of these symbols.” – Mackenzie Younger